IRISH Sea Express.com, the new fast-ferry link from Liverpool to Dublin, has teamed up with the Tate Gallery to invite talented young artists from the Sefton area to have their work displayed on board “Sea Express 1”.

The chance to take part in this onboard art exhibition is open to Sefton youngsters under the age of 13 and the exhibition will be compiled in conjunction with the Tate Gallery. All artwork must be inspired by the sea and work will be displayed in two different age categories, one for the under sevens and one for youngsters age seven to 13.

One lucky artist from each category will be whisked off to Dublin for a night, courtesy of Irish Sea Express.com, where they and up to three members of their family will get to see some of Dublin’s top attractions. They will also get to meet the Captain onboard the ship.

All youngsters whose work is displayed in the onboard exhibition will be given an Irish Sea Express.com goody bag. The art exhibition will run throughout the month of November and with daily sailings between the Pier Head and Dublin city centre, the display will be seen by up to 1,000 passengers a day.

Paul Ashcroft of Irish Sea Express.com said:- “Kids are tremendously imaginative and it’s important to reward and encourage their creativity. We’re pleased to be able to provide a platform for youngsters to display their work.

It’s the first time we’ve hosted a floating art gallery, I’m sure the display will be welcomed by both passengers and staff.”

Sefton youngsters wishing to take part in the floating art exhibition should send their ‘sea inspired’ artwork along with their name, age and address to Irish Sea Express.com Art Exhibition, Paver Downes, 2 Queen Square, Liverpool, L1 1RH before 3 October.

‘Family Safety Unit Launched – First in the Northwest’

A Domestic Violence Conference is being held on 14 September, at Pacific Road Birkenhead. The conference will launch the first family safety unit in the Wirral; which will be the first in the Northwest; as well as launch the Wirral’s Domestic Abuse Strategy for 2005 – 2008.

Domestic Abuse is still prevalent in society, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience some form for domestic abuse in their life time.

This conference will not only look to launch the Unit; it is also focusing on one of the most vulnerable groups – children. Figures show that 90% of children are present in the same or adjacent room when domestic abuse occurs. Each year thousands of children run away from home because of domestic abuse.

Many of the high profile speakers in the field of domestic abuse; including Dr Ravinder Thiara (Warwick University) will discuss the impact that domestic abuse has on the relationship between mothers and their children; this ground breaking research is due to be published shortly.

The delegates will also see a number of impactive multimedia presentations, which have been developed by ‘What If Communications’; the first of these will feature at the beginning of the conference, the lights will go down and the delegates will hear a couple arguing; underneath the arguing is a heartbeat; as the argument reaches a peak the heartbeat quickens, violence ensues; as the violence stops, delegates realise that children have been witnessing the violence; a hospital monitor starts to beep in line with the heart beat, which is getting slower and slower until it flat lines.

Delegates will also see a play about domestic abuse and children by the AftaThought Theatre Group.

The event being organised by ‘What if Communications’ on behalf of Wirral MBC Violence / Hate Crime Reduction Team are expecting over 180 delegates to attend.